Well, I need one and am not quite sure.
My brother (who has a bachelor's in Computer engineering) suggested a Mac Mini or a Dell Studio 15 with a Core 2 Duo.
I have a limit of around $1000, but am hoping to not spend that much (the more that goes to other things the better). umm.. Ill be going into Aerospace Engineering or some other kind so I'll need something that will be able to work with any programs I might need plus I'd like some gaming ability (like, simple games... you know like solitaire, pinball, stuff like that).
I need suggestions as to what to get. (the reason I suggested both the Mini and the Dell is because with the discount we get, they are exactly the same price with roughly the same stuff).
And as you can tell.. I don't particularly know what the hell I'm talking about.
Full Version: Computer For College
If you want compatibility, don't get the mac. 
And for games, will you be playing 3d games? (rs, wow, CoD, etc. If so, list them.)
Do you want a computer that's light/portable or has a bigger screen/heavier (depends if you'll be carrying it around with you and how EXTREMELY BUFF YOU ARE). I personally would rather have a computer with a larger screen, especially if you have larger hands, because the keyboards are bigger, as compared to a computer with an 8 inch screen and keyboard. 
And for games, will you be playing 3d games? (rs, wow, CoD, etc. If so, list them.)
Do you want a computer that's light/portable or has a bigger screen/heavier (depends if you'll be carrying it around with you and how EXTREMELY BUFF YOU ARE
). I personally would rather have a computer with a larger screen, especially if you have larger hands, because the keyboards are bigger, as compared to a computer with an 8 inch screen and keyboard.
QUOTE (redmonke @ Mar 28 2009, 12:42 AM) 
If you want compatibility, don't get the mac.
And for games, will you be playing 3d games? (rs, wow, CoD, etc. If so, list them.)
Do you want a computer that's light/portable or has a bigger screen/heavier (depends if you'll be carrying it around with you and how EXTREMELY BUFF YOU ARE). I personally would rather have a computer with a larger screen, especially if you have larger hands, because the keyboards are bigger, as compared to a computer with an 8 inch screen and keyboard.
And for games, will you be playing 3d games? (rs, wow, CoD, etc. If so, list them.)
Do you want a computer that's light/portable or has a bigger screen/heavier (depends if you'll be carrying it around with you and how EXTREMELY BUFF YOU ARE
). I personally would rather have a computer with a larger screen, especially if you have larger hands, because the keyboards are bigger, as compared to a computer with an 8 inch screen and keyboard. mmkay...
3d games.. probably not, I'll have my Xbox 360.
Light and portable vs big and heavy.. doesn't bother me. The campus isn't that spread out so I won't have too far to carry it. But I'd prefer somewhere between 15 and 19 inches. Any smaller and I can't really type efficiently. Any bigger and my eyes will probably burn.
I suggest something like this.
16" screen. 4gb of ram (plenty more than enough). 2.4ghz Core2Duo (once again, plenty fast). 500gb hard drive (won't run out of space any time soon).
That's all for $850, which leaves you more room to buy Microsoft Office with the student discount. Ultimate for $60-students only.
16" screen. 4gb of ram (plenty more than enough). 2.4ghz Core2Duo (once again, plenty fast). 500gb hard drive (won't run out of space any time soon).
That's all for $850, which leaves you more room to buy Microsoft Office with the student discount. Ultimate for $60-students only.
QUOTE (redmonke @ Mar 28 2009, 01:20 AM)
I suggest something like this.
16" screen. 4gb of ram (plenty more than enough). 2.4ghz Core2Duo (once again, plenty fast). 500gb hard drive (won't run out of space any time soon).
That's all for $850, which leaves you more room to buy Microsoft Office with the student discount. Ultimate for $60-students only.
16" screen. 4gb of ram (plenty more than enough). 2.4ghz Core2Duo (once again, plenty fast). 500gb hard drive (won't run out of space any time soon).
That's all for $850, which leaves you more room to buy Microsoft Office with the student discount. Ultimate for $60-students only.
I'll definitely give it some thought (even though I'm not the one paying for it).
Pay for microsoft stuff.. I'll just steal it from my brother like I normally do
I just look through like 30 other laptops, and I think red picked the best, unless you want in a webcam/mic. It's got a FM tuner 
btw red Cliff Burton < Victor Wooten
btw red Cliff Burton < Victor Wooten
I carry a Dell 15.4" notebook with me everyday in my backpack and its such a hassle already lol.
I would definitely suggest the Mac Mini for its reliability, small size, and great operating system.
QUOTE (Vang @ Mar 28 2009, 11:36 AM)
I carry a Dell 15.4" notebook with me everyday in my backpack and its such a hassle already lol.
I have a Dell 15.4" notebook as well and it is a heavy weight to carry, but the Toshiba I'm using now (I think it's just a lower version of the one I suggested) is much lighter. I carried it around in my backpack at school and could barely feel it. It's about half the weight of a textbook.
And I carry a 13.3" MacBook around all day at school and barely notice it. All depends on the bag and the person. My bag can hold tons of weight and I barely notice it, because it's designed properly.
That Toshiba up there wasn't bad for a laptop. I'd say get a Mac Mini as a desktop, but buy a different monitor for it for cheaper.
~Bcloutier~
That Toshiba up there wasn't bad for a laptop. I'd say get a Mac Mini as a desktop, but buy a different monitor for it for cheaper.
~Bcloutier~
Lenovo IdeaPad U110
Toshiba Satellite U405
Lenovo ThinkPad SL300
Lenovo ThinkPad SL400
Faster Lenovo ThinkPad SL400
Then of course those dozens of 15+" models. Pick what suits the need. For the price though, you could get a netbook ($300-350) and a desktop ($650-700). Again, depending on your need, it may make a lot of sense. Otherwise, a single laptop is a better choice.
Toshiba Satellite U405
Lenovo ThinkPad SL300
Lenovo ThinkPad SL400
Faster Lenovo ThinkPad SL400
Then of course those dozens of 15+" models. Pick what suits the need. For the price though, you could get a netbook ($300-350) and a desktop ($650-700). Again, depending on your need, it may make a lot of sense. Otherwise, a single laptop is a better choice.
SLs are very heavy as notebooks.
My school is ordering some for next year, and I got to try it.
The lid can also attract fingerprints too, if that's anything to you.
My school is ordering some for next year, and I got to try it.
The lid can also attract fingerprints too, if that's anything to you.
Incase you still want to have a mac (Pretty much all colleges are now mac compatible), you can get a good last gen macbook for $999 
And I like bob-sma's recommendation of netbook + desktop a lot, since if you need to do anything better than netbook stuff, you can come back to the dorm and use your desktop, although the keyboard is only 95% of a regular one usually.
And I like bob-sma's recommendation of netbook + desktop a lot, since if you need to do anything better than netbook stuff, you can come back to the dorm and use your desktop, although the keyboard is only 95% of a regular one usually.
i'm going to suggest probably a mac book. it's over 1000 dollars i know but i talked to a specialist and they said it should take me from now through college. i'll probably upgrade to the mac book pro sometime between now and then because of it's insane battery life but right now this works fine
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